Isles Player Previews: Ryan Pulock

Ryan Pulock

Tap or click card to see stats

2015-16 Season: Ryan Pulock had to wait until the end of February to make his NHL debut last season, but once he was up, he never looked back.

Recalled on Feb. 22, Pulock played 15 games for the Islanders down the stretch and six more in the playoffs. It was a memorable two-and-a-half months for the 2013 first-rounder, making his debut on Feb. 28 against the Edmonton Oilers, playing in his home province on Mar. 3 against the Winnipeg Jets and scoring his first regular season and postseason goals.

After scoring 54 points (24G, 30A) in 108 AHL games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Pulock contributed four points (2G, 2A) in 15 regular-season games and three points (1G, 2A) in six playoff games. An injury kept him out of Games 5 and 6 against the Florida Panthers and Games 1-3 against Tampa Bay, but Pulock returned for Games 4 and 5.

The Look Ahead: After finishing the year with the Islanders last season, starting the year with the team is the next step for Pulock. He is one of eight Islanders defensemen currently on the roster, but is fighting for playing time with fellow youngsters Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield. He’ll turn 22 a week before the season starts, so he’s currently the youngest player on the roster.

Pulock is lauded for his booming slap shot, but has developed more aspects to his game in his two seasons in Bridgeport. He has deceptive speed and will keep teams guessing with his abilities to rush the puck and jump up in the play. He also knows when to not take the shot, as evidenced by a pair of nifty fake slappers to set guys up for tap-in and one-timer goals.

Pulock is a threat on the man advantage, with 17 power-play goals in his two seasons in Bridgeport. Power-play time or not, he should contribute to the offense from the Islanders blue line, given his offensive pedigree.